FAQs

This means solar system owners can use solar electricity for their own requirements, not only during the day but also at times of less light, such as in the morning or evening.

Once the batteries are completely charged, excess electricity can be fed into the public grid.

When the sun goes down and the cost of power peaks, your home’s energy system automatically switches to electricity from the batteries.

If your battery capacity is insufficient to meet your energy consumption requirements, power is obtained from the public grid.

2

How much battery capacity do I need?

This will depend on your desired degree of energy independence, the amount of electricity you consume, the orientation of your roof/solar panels and the size of your solar PV system (if already in place).

CSS will assess your household’s energy requirements to develop an energy solution that’s right for you and your budget.

Contact us today to arrange your obligation-free quote.

3

What is the difference between a gross meter and net meter?

Gross Meter

With a gross meter in place, all electricity you generate is sent to the grid.

This means you pay for all energy used in the household and receive a payment (such as a feed-in tariff) for the solar energy your system feeds into the grid.

Net Meter

A net metering system records the amount of energy exported to the grid and the amount of energy drawn from the grid.

This means the electricity you generate is used to supply your own energy requirements first and any excess generation not used in the premises is exported to the grid.

Solar customers with a net meter can therefore reduce their power bills by reducing their dependency on the grid.

Who can switch my meter from a gross meter to a net meter?

Only an authorised electrician is able to perform the job.

An increase in meter change requests is expected to occur when the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme draws to a close at the end of 2016.

Enquire with Care Solar Solutions about the best way to continue saving with your solar system today to avoid delay.

4

What happens when the NSW Solar Bonus Scheme ends on 31 December 2016?

The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme was established in 2010 to encourage the uptake of renewable energy.

On New Year’s Day 2017 this Scheme will no longer exist.

This means solar customers on a 60 or 20 cent kWh feed-in tariff will no longer receive such generous credits on their power bills for the clean energy their solar panels feed into the public grid.

Eligible Scheme customers will continue to receive payments under the Scheme until the end of the year, after which they can access the same market offers for unsubsidised feed-in tariffs that are available to all other solar customers.

Solar customers are encouraged to investigate their metering and other product options to ensure they get the most out of their renewable energy system when the Scheme ends.

5

Am I entitled to any government incentives or rebates if I install a solar and battery storage solution on my home?

While there are no subsidies in place to encourage the take-up of battery storage, the purchase of solar panels does attract a financial incentive.

It’s known as the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme and it creates a financial incentive for individuals and small businesses to install eligible small-scale renewable energy systems such as solar panel systems.

It does this through the creation of small-scale technology certificates which Renewable Energy Target liable entities have a legal obligation to buy and surrender to the Clean Energy Regulator on a quarterly basis.

Small-scale technology certificates can be created following the installation of an eligible system, and are calculated by the amount of electricity a system produces or displaces.

This incentive also applies when a solar and battery storage solution is purchased together.

To learn just how much you can save on your solar panels, contact CSS today.